The old fortified city of Zaltbommel, on the banks of the Waal, has seen many spatial changes over the centuries thanks to the dynamic interaction between the city and the river. The city’s relationship to the river will now be given a new impulse as a result of several development plans, such as the dike improvement plan. Dike improvement was necessary in order to allow the dike to hold back the high water level set by the state.

Grontmij was commissioned by the Groot Maas en Waal polder district to create a vision of the river and the flood plain, the city of Zaltbommel and the relationship between the two. This involved a complete redesign and remodeling of the city riverfront. In addition to the functional pre-conditions, recreational aspects will also play an important role. An integral vision is therefore a key factor in the development of the city and the river.
In addition to the functional improvement of the dam at Zaltbommel, the wishes on the part of the municipality and the population regarding the urban developments are explicitly taken into account in the choices made regarding design and lay-out. For example, part of the one-metre thick damming wall has been located at the same site where the medieval city wall once stood. In addition, the demands which have been made by the use of the river and the design of the banks of the Waal near Zaltbommel have been taken into account. A priority in the design was that the dam remains clearly recognisable. The primary function of the wall as damming device has been seized as a design theme.

A recreational route guides the dam, which creates the perception of the continuity of the riverfront along its entire length. This route links the existing residential areas to one another through a promenade, which in turn forms a connection with the park that surrounds the city centre. In this way, the left bank of the Waal becomes an unmistakable part of the fortifications that surround Zaltbommel.